Kanada lässt eine von den USA gesponserte Militärübung in Afrika aus, da es Ressourcen prüft

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After more than a decade of involvement, Canada’s special forces are dropping out of a U.S.-sponsored military exercise in Africa, with Ottawa saying it needs to reconsider where to deploy its resources.

The decision to stop participating in the annual Flintlock exercise, a key Pentagon priority in Africa, could be a sign that the Department of National Defence is stretched thin, with a growing list of commitments in Europe, Asia and the Arctic, defence analyst David Perry said.

The counterterrorism exercise began this week with opening ceremonies in Ivory Coast and Libya, where an estimated 1,500 troops from more than 30 countries are taking part as trainers or trainees. The manoeuvres are aimed at helping African armies respond better to threats from terrorists and violent extremist groups.

Canada has participated in Flintlock for 14 years, usually by deploying a contingent of officers from the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, known as CANSOFCOM, to help train their African counterparts.

In 2023, for example, CANSOFCOM sent about 20 members to the Flintlock exercise at Jacqueville, in Ivory Coast, where they focused on mentoring troops from Niger.

But none will join the exercise this year. “CANSOFCOM can confirm we will no longer participate in Ex FLINTLOCK,” said Lieutenant-Commander Christine Hurov, a spokesperson for the special operations command, in an e-mailed response to questions from The Globe and Mail.

“As part of our mandate, CANSOFCOM must constantly evaluate where our resources are allocated,” she said.

“Our participation in FLINTLOCK had been reducing over the years, leading to the recent decision to reallocate these resources to better support Government of Canada priorities.”

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“It’s not you. It’s us”

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